An overdue update!

It's been a while since I've posted here! I had intended to write a new blog post on several occasions, but most of the time I would remember when I was driving, and it seems like 5 seconds later the thought leaves my mind without a helpful reminder set anywhere... Well, I finally remembered by myself!

Though it's been a while since I updated this blog, there's actually not all too much to say on the game development front. I decided to take a much needed break from intense work, instead opting to just... Play some video-games. I hadn't had that liberty for the better part of this year, so it was refreshing to just be able to sit back and relax. I finished Watch Dogs 2, spent a fair bit of time playing Pokemon Sun, and also finished Sleeping Dogs (which was a Games With Gold freebie). I plan to go back and complete as many achievements as possible in WD2 and SD, but I also received the Bioshock Collection for Christmas, so I've been devoting some time to replaying those games (which has been both brilliant and nostalgic to say the least).

Having said all that, I haven't been completely game development free (nor would I want to be!). Wanting to broaden my horizons as a programmer, I've begun taking a Udemy course for learning C++ through the Unreal Engine. It's been fun so far, but my laptop has some issues running Unreal, which means that at this stage I'm unlikely to be working on any Unreal projects until I build my own computer (which is likely quite far off).

I've also had some semi-regular meetings with my capstone project team about the future of Bees Won't Exist. At this current stage, the only thing that is certain is that we will be pushing on with development of the game (as in, adding features people have asked for, fixing various issues, etc.), hopefully for release on a larger platform. This should start in February, so I'm trying to get all the practice programming and time for relaxation in while I can!

On top of this, I've lent some of my time to the QUTGDC (QUT Game Development Club) to help out with their university holidays project. I initially came on wanting to do more programming than anything else, but through both the freeform nature of the project and my own lack of organization, I sort of fell back and worked on some atmos tracks. Going forward, I'm likely going to have to drop off the project to focus on both working my casual job in preparation for taking BWE back into development, as well as continuing that C++ self-teaching. (Note to self: Atmos is pretty hard when most of the nature sound effects usually expected come from objects and entities within the scene!)

So, that's what I've been up to! I'm again off to Melbourne this coming Thursday for Unify Gathering 2017, which is sure to be amazing. I'm so, so hyped to finally see Alexisonfire, not even my closest pals realize!